Beliefnet News

(RNS) After receiving new evidence, the editor of a prominent compilation of famous quotations now believes theologian Reinhold Niebuhr most likely is the author of the popular “Serenity Prayer.” “I think it’s not certain,” Fred R. Shapiro, editor of “The Yale Book of Quotations,” said in an interview Monday (Nov. 30). “If I had to…

The Vatican has offered Anglicans a chance to return to the Catholic church.  Simon Constable speaks with three eminent scholars about the offer to bury the hatchet after a half-millennium. Watch the video:   Video courtesy of our partners at the Wall Street Journal. The featured scholars are Thomas Reese of Georgetown University Woostock Theological…

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Rare, heavy rainstorms soaked pilgrims and flooded the road into Mecca, snarling Islam’s annual hajj as millions of Muslims headed for the holy sites. The downpours add an extra hazard on top of intense concerns about the spread of swine flu. Pilgrims in white robes porting umbrellas, some wearing face masks…

(RNS) Setting up on the grassy area outside their dorm, grilling burgers and passing out drinks, the young men known as “College Kids Tailgate” are like scores of other Auburn students on game day — full of good cheer, camaraderie, and cries of “War Eagle!” Their unofficial uniforms — orange jumpsuits — makes them visible,…

(RNS) For six seasons, Ed Alstrom has performed regularly as organist for 50,000-plus fans at weekend games in one of the nation’s highest-profile baseball venues — Yankee Stadium. Now, he’s got a second gig where crowds usually top out at about 200: Morristown’s Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. The New Jersey native began his job…

(RNS) Whether they call it a temple, synagogue or shul, you can tell a lot about Jews by what they call their house of worship. So says a new survey of American Jews — and non-Jews — that says one’s place on the religious spectrum can be pinpointed, in part, by the use of Hebrew…

(RNS) Atheists are celebrating and Christian Scientists are worried now that a provision requiring private medical insurers to reimburse for “religious or spiritual health care” has not been included in the Senate’s health care reform bill. In a news release headlined “Victory!”, the Freedom From Religion Foundation said the deleted language “would have mandated payment…

(RNS) More Americans believe a statement about giving “justice to the poor and homeless” came from President Obama instead of its true source, the Bible. A survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the American Bible Society found that 54 percent of U.S. adults polled believe the statement — “You must defend those who are helpless…

Nov. 21–BEIRUT — Pow! Forbes names “The 99” as one of the top 20 pop culture trends sweeping the globe. Shazzam! “The 99” theme park opens. Kerboom! Endemol begins work on an animated television series featuring “The 99” superhero characters. Slam! “The 99” creator Dr. Naif al-Mutawa is described as one of the 500 most…

WASHINGTON (RNS) Hate crime incidents targeting people based on their religion were at their highest frequency last year since 2001, according to a new report. The report, compiled by the Anti-Defamation League from FBI data, found 1,519 religious hate crimes in 2008, accounting for about 20 percent of all bias crimes. It was an increase…

More from Beliefnet and our partners